The Low Carbon Economy Ltd

Unison calls on UK businesses to cut carbon emissions

A public-sector trade union has called on employers in the public and private commercial sector to make greater efforts to tackle carbon emissions.

Unison, which is the second-largest UK trade union with 1.3 million members, urged companies to work with their employers to address climate change.

The call came following a report by the Environmental Audit Commission, which suggested that the government is falling behind on carbon reduction targets for its own buildings.

According to the EAC, the government was on track to meet some of its goals in the year 2007-08, namely for recycling and for renewable energy, but it also warned that its overall performance was worse than in 2006-07.

This prompted Unison general secretary Dave Prentis to say that taxpayers and commercial ventures could be left to pick up the slack.

"Workplaces are estimated to be responsible for 50 percent of carbon emissions, so it is vital that they take responsibility for greening our future," he said.

"Trade unions already have well-developed networks of representatives in workplaces, so are perfectly placed to help employers spread the green message and get staff involved."